The EYFS Profile is explained in detail in the EYFS (2023) on pages 19 and 20.

The Early Learning Goals (ELGs) summarise the level of development children should be expected to have attained by the end of the EYFS. Pre-reception providers do not need to use the ELGs but “must help children work towards (the knowledge, skills and understanding children should have at the end of the academic year in which they turn five)” page 5. ELGs are for assessment purposes – a quick, precise, ‘low stakes’ end point measure. The ELGs are on pages 11 to 15 of the EYFS (2023).

The ELGs should not be used as a curriculum but used as an assessment of child development during the summer term of the reception year.

The ELGs haven’t been published in the revised Development Matters because it was being used as a curriculum in some reception classes and the reception year is not about jumping through 17 ELG hoops.

As part of the EYFS reforms, the exceeding judgement has been removed. However, this does not mean that children are not challenged in their learning but teachers may consider how they can provide children with deeper learning experiences.

Changes to the ELGs

• Communication and Language – provides more focus on vocabulary.
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development – includes self-regulation and self-care has been moved here.
• Physical Development – separation of fine motor and gross motor skills.
• Literacy – comprehension is now included here.
• Mathematics – greater focus on a deep understanding of numbers to 10 and a new ELG on number patterns. Shape, space and measure are not assessed but are still in the statutory Educational Programmes in the EYFS.
• Understanding the World – includes more information about the different areas of learning: science, geography and history. A greater emphasis on vocabulary.
• Expressive Arts and Design – more clarity here and a focus on developing language throughout.